Foreigners and Other Provinces Increase: Gwangju COVID-19 Spread Continues

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Twenty-six additional COVID-19 infections were reported in the Gwangju area.

According to Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 26th, as of 2 p.m. that day, the newly confirmed cases were classified as numbers 4874 to 4899.

Among them, 11 cases were related to foreigners in Gwangsan-gu undergoing testing, with 2 currently in isolation.

Four cases were linked to confirmed patients from other cities and provinces, including Hwaseong in Gyeonggi-do. The impact of population movement during the Chuseok holiday period continues.

Three cases were related to previously confirmed patients (2874, 4877, 4883).

Eight cases, including 4875, 4876, and 4878, currently have unidentified infection routes.

Looking at recent trends, the average daily confirmed cases increased from 24.2 during the week of the 12th to the 18th to 37.5 during the holiday period from the 19th to the 25th.

Since September began, a total of 809 confirmed cases have occurred, which is higher than the 717 cases reported in one month during the cluster outbreak at Gwangju TCS International School in January.

In a COVID-19 briefing, Director of Welfare and Health Division, Lee Dal-ju, expressed concern that "with National Foundation Day and Hangul Day in early October, the volume of movement is expected to increase again."

He added, "Active cooperation from citizens is absolutely necessary," and urged, "Even if there are no special symptoms, those who have visited other regions or multi-use facilities should proactively get tested."